Because scientists are middle-schoolers at heart, like the rest of us, they decided to pit two Cleverbots — artifical-intelligence chat programs — against one another and see what kind of conversation ensued. The result was odd, impolite, and pretty funny. Inspired by this, I decided to have a chat with a Cleverbot myself.

After a quick discussion of feminism (Cleverbot refused to offer an opinion), things got kind of interesting:

Cleverbot: I am a man. Are you a man or a woman?

Anna: I am a woman. You are a robot.

C: But I am a male robot.

A: What makes you male?

C: You want to find out?

A: No.

C: Ah, yes, you want to be a bird. A male or a female?

I think Cleverbot was hitting on me! But he's right, I do want to be a bird.